Spherical valve



Dec. 22, 1953 R. BAccHl 2,663,538

SPHERICAL VALVE med March 29, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 1 @y 5765/ B% 1W l.

Dec. 22, 1953 R. BAccHl 2,663,538

sPHERIcAL VALVE Filed March 29, 194e l 4 snegts-sneez 2 IN V EN TOR.

Dec. 22, 1953 R. BAccHl 2,663,538

SPHERICAL VALVE med March 29, 194e 4- sneets-sneet s IN VEN TOR. Pay 5066/7/ Dec. 22, 1953 R. BAccHl 2,663,538

SPHERICAL VALVE Filed March 29, 1948 4 l*Sheets-Sheet 4 fi IN V EN TOR.

BMM

Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED STATE nATENT OFFICE SPHERICAL VALVE Application March 29, 1948, Serial No. 17,732

8 Claims.

My invention relates to means for controlling fluid iiow and especially to means for controlliner hydraulic or liquid new in conduits such as pipe lines, especially those of relatively large size and of relatively great length in which considerable accuracy oi valving is essential to avoid disruptive forces or effects upon the pipe line or appurtenant mechanism,

My invention also relates to valves of relatively large capacity which, when closed, must be entirely or almost entirely liquid tight and which, when open, must provide a relatively smooth passageway for the flowing liquid in order to reduce hydraulic losses as much as possible.

It is an object of my invention to provide a valve of a nature to be readily fabricated in relatively large sizes and capacities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve effective to control a relatively large amount of fluid but requiring only a relatively small amount of power for its actuation. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which, when closed, is subject t little or no leakage because the sealing surfaces are in close Contact.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve in which the interior contour, when the valve is open, is relatively continuous and smooth.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve readily incorporated in a pipe line Without requiring excessive sp-ace and without involving special constructions or adaptations of a standard pipe line.

A further object of the invention is to provide valve susceptible to operation by any of the standard operating mechanisms.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a valve which can oe installed in or removed from a pipe line with little or no disruption of the surrounding structure.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a valve having essentially simple and straightforward mechanical properties.

Other objects of the invention, are attained in the embodiments thereof described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a cross section on a longitudinal vertical plane through a valve constructed in accordance with my invention, the valve being shown in its open position.

Figure 2 is a detail to an enlarged scale showing the mounting arrangement for one of the valve seat rings.

Figure 3 is a cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross section, similar to Figure 1 but showing the valve in its closed position and, in dotted lines, in an intermediate position.

Figure 5 is a side elevation, a portion being shown in cross section, of a modied form of valve of my invention.

Figure 6 is a cross section the plane of which is indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 'l is a cross section showing in detail to an enlarged scale a part of the structure sectionalized on the line l-T of Figure 6.

In many hydraulic installations particularly those involving relatively large hydraulic pipe lines of considerable length handling large volumes of water, for example in penstocks for hydro-electric generating plants or in aqueducts for Water supply there is a general need for a valve to control the flow of water;v that is, either to interrupt the flow completely or to permit it to continue freely. It is desirable when the valve is shut that it be virtually drop tight and not susceptible to any substantial amount of leakage whatsoever. It is likewise important when the valve is open that the resistance to hydraulic flow through it be relatively small. In normal operation the valve remains open for long periods and' any disturbance to the hydraulic flow which results in a loss of pressure or which unduly disturbs the water is a detrimental factor and it is desired to avoid it.

In order to keep valves with abutting seats adequately tight, the valves are often designed and made unbalanced in some fashion so that the resulting hydraulic pressure When the Valve is closed will force the abutting seats together and by metallic contact preclude leakage. A diiculty with such an arrangement is that when the valve is to be opened, the abutting seats must somehow be freed or moved under load. In either instance elaborate mechanism is necessary to free the valve seats or to move them under load.

In accordance with the present invention the sundry requirements mentioned have been met and the objects have been attained by the general type of structure disclosed. While variations are possible and exist for different installations, the general arrangement of the valve is as shown. As represented especially in Figures 1 to 4, the valve incorporates a casing 5 comprised of an upstream half 1 and a downstream half 8, provided with plane-faced, circular flanges Si and Il, re spectively, pierced by threaded bolt holes l2 and I3 in order that the casing t can be mechanically and hydraulically incorporated in a line to be controlled by the valve. The flanges t and l l and the casing halves are provided with feet Hl and It in order that the weight of the valve can be supported on a suitable foundation, not shown. The casing 5 in general is of a spherical contour in that the envelope walls Il and I8 of the two halves 'E and E are curved. about a common center I9. This center is offset from a longitudinal axis 2| which ordinarily is coincident with the .axis of the pipe line and is concentric with the rcircular anges 9 and The axis 2| is likewise concentric with a circular cylindrical inlet opening 122 and with a similar circular cylindrical .outlet opening 23. The casing 6, itself, is divided on a transverse plane to provide -a planar joint .2e :in la plane parallel with the outer-faces of the flanges E and perpendicular to the axis 2|, and also containing the center I9. The :ioint 2e .is main-.- tained by a pair of peripheral flanges 26 and 2l the former being integral with the casing half 'i'. whereas the latter is integral with the casing half t. Alternately anchored studs 28 .and nuts 29 removably or Vdetachaoly ysecure the casing 'halves l' and S together in alined relationship. 'Hydraulic leakage through the joint 2e is resisted by a circular packing 31| incorporated in `the joint. Suitable cored bosses 32 and .3:3 :are provided .on the casing half S in .order that .the interior of the casing can V.be unwatered 4or :watered other than from the pine line.

In accordance with my invention, either the inlet opening 22 `or the outlet opening 23 is pro- -vided With a Yvalve seat. In the present instance the valve seat is .disposed to .encompass the outlet opening 23. Accordingly, a casing seat ring '3e is disposed within the casing half 3 and is nested Within a 1re-entrant, circular groove k355 `machined in the casing half. Although .the ring groove 3S is circular and is -in a plane parallel to the plane of the joint 2li and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis '-25, it is not Aconcentric `With the longitudinal axis but rather is .oit-set, .or .dise placed, or spaced from such axis on a parallel axis 35 through the point i9. In other Words, the center of the ring groove 31d is above .(-in Figure Al) the `longitudinal axis 2| so that the ring Si? is disposed with its interior circular cylindrical periphery substantially tangent at one point to the interior circular cylindrical periphery of the outlet 23, While the remaining portions of the interior peripheries of the ring 343 and of the outlet 23 are not co--extensive- The ring '3d itself is a metal band arranged -to fit snugly within the casing groove 3, is provided with a packing 3l in an appropriate channel and is secured by fasteners .38. The ring is provided with a spherical surface 39. This .surface is a part of the surface of an imaginary sphere having its center vwithin .the casing il in the general region of the intersection :of the axis 2i and the transverse plane containing the joint 2li, but the center of the spherical surface is not upon the axis 2! but rather is spaced from, displaced frozn or is separate from such axis and is located at the point i9 in Figure '1,

Located within the casing is a rotor .1i This is substantially a cage or generally hollow body designed to Vbe moved into several positions. There is a circular cylindrical passageway a2 through the rotor designed, in the open position of the valve, substantially to .continue the passageway defined by the .coaxial inlet opening 22 and outlet opening '23. In order that this passageway be substantially continuous or as uninterrupted as possible, the rotor adjacent each end is provided with inset collars te and 4E. The

.col-lar se cornes as close as -is mechanically feasible to the end surface of the inlet opening 22 whereas the collar fl-i comes as close as mechanically feasible to a similar collar @l insorted into and forming a continuation of the outlet opening 23. The collars id and di terminate on arcuate cylindrical surfaces the generatrices of which are parallel to the plane of Ythe joint 243. In this fashion the openings i3 and i9 between the casing E and the rotor iii in A'the open position of the Valve are exceedingly `sonal-l 4and produce no substantial interference with the free flow of the hydraulic uid.

Inorderthat the rotor il can be readily moved as desired, it isprovided with a pair of shafts 5l and 52 preferably formed integrally with the groter .casting .and extending from opposite sides thereof coaxial with an axis 53. This transverse axis intersects the longitudinal axis 2i of the casing 6 and is perpendicular thereto, being also .contained the plane containing the joint 2d. The shafts il and 52 are provided with antifric= 'tion bearings .5i and it A received in suitable bosses al and 5 8 formed in lateral portions of the two casing halves 'l' and .The bosses 5l and 53 are split, and after assembly are encompassed by binding rings -59 and Si. Packing glands 62 and 63 preclude leakage along the shafts. The `shafts 5| and .52 bei-ng integrally formed with the rotor cast-ing are, like the entire casting, cored s o that the interiors are hollow and the Weight of the rotor is reduced.

At one end, the shaf-t 5i is formed with an attaching :flange 6 vfor the reception of Ia lever l0r crank or other suitable operating device effective to rotate the shaft and the vrotor about the transverse axis 53; that is, about a point 'on the .longitudinal axis 2i- The .rotation of the rotor :is between two .extreme positions, .the rst rosition beine an open position as .Shown in Figure 1 and the second position being a closed position as .Shown in Figure .4.. This rotation is approxinletey degrees in extent and .is effect-ive to more the valve yrotor from its completely open position into its completely closed position.

.order that, when closed, the valve `Will be substagntialli7 tight, and in order that the valve will remain tight after closure, I provide a rotor .Seat 55 von :the rotor di. This seat is a planar circular Surface the plane of which in the closed position of the valve is substantially parallel to the joint 2li, but the center of which is not then on or coincident with the axis 25, but rather is displaced or spaced or oifset from such axis and is upon the center i9 and in the open position of the valve shifts to a point t5 on the axis 2|.

Designed to iit upon the seat et is a rotor seat ring '57. This is an annulus of metal provided with a ,sealing ring Se. The ring is formed with an external spherical surface Eid which in the closed position of the valve is centered about the Ipoint L9, that is, it has the same center as the surface 3d. The seat ring tl is designed tightly to abut the seat ring 3d. The two spherical surfaces come into intimate metal to metal contact when the valve is closed, there being a translation of such surfaces toward each other due to the spacing of the .center i9 from the axis 2| and from :the axis 53.

Because of the inevitable discrepancies in manufacture or installation., particularly in large size equipment, the ring 6l is not located upon the Vsurface x66 or the rotor in a fixed manner, but is provided with an adjustment. ,As particularly illustrated Figure 2., the rotor is formed with a projecting .fannulus 1|.

The annulus is radiantr y drilled and tapped around its periphery at intervals to accommodate threaded studs l2, formed one end 'i3 to receive a suitable tool for rotation. The ring 6l is provided adjacentvthe point of contact of each of the studs l2, with a radially elongated or generally enlarged opening ifi', through which passes a bolt l@ engaging a suitably threaded core il within the rotor itself. A washer i3 spans the space between the shank of the bolt and the surrounding material of the ring 5l.

In use, the bolts l@ are loosened and the screws l2 are individually located in appropriate radial positions so that they define a true circle having the appropriate center so that the exterior spherical surface Sil of the ring, (il will corne appropriately into exact abutment with the matu ing or matching cooperating spherical surface 39 of the seat ring sli. When the screws 'l2 have been so adjusted, and the ring tl is then accurately positioned, the bolts 'lli are tightened in order to retain the ring in set position.

With this arrangement, when the journal shafts il! and 52 are rotated to move to rotor from its open position as shown in Figure l through an intermediate position shown in dotted lines in Figure l and into the iinal position shown in full lines in Figure li, the spherically surfaced rotor seat ring is moved about the transverse axis 53 as a center. The rotor carries the eccentric seat ring El' into close approach to and nal abutment with the eccentric casing seat ring til. If these two rings were concentric with the longitudinal axis 2l of the valve, they would never come into abutment but would rather rotate or slide over each other with incre or less clearance depending upon the accuracy of manufacture of the structure. The valve then would be completely balanced and the pressure of the water would be entirely taken by the bearings lill and lit. Whatever mechanical clearance existed between the concentric seats of the rotor and casing would serve as an escape passageway for water. The valve, even though nominally closed, would leak.

In accordance with my invention, however, the spherically surfaced seats are eccentric so that when the valve rotor approaches and finally cornes into closed position there is not only a part or component or" rotary motion, but there is in addition a translatory or translational component of the motion which brings the surfaces into actual physical abutment. Since the valve seats are not concentric out rather are slightly eccentric the valve is correspondingly unbalanced and the pressure of the water tends to rotate the rotor into closed position. The load due to the hydraulic pressure is borne not only by the bearings i and ii but also is imposed upon the sealing rings and 3ft, forcing the spherical surfaces 5% and 39 thereof into close abutment. This reduces to a negligible amount any clearance therebetween and substantially precludes leakage. At the same time the amount of eccentricity of the rotor seat is such that the valve is nearly enough balanced so that the rotor can be moved out of its closed position without undue force. Since the movement is not strictly a rotation or spherical swing, but rather has a translational or longitudinal component, the seats come apart readily without scraping or dragging and the valve is easily opened. It is swung' into the open position as shown in Figure l until such time as a shoulder Si on the rotor abuts a lip lit on the upstream half 'l of the casing to serve as a stop.

With the valve as illustrated, there is provided a smooth through passage for water when the valve is opened and a tight closure when the valve is closed, the opening and closing force required is readily supplied through the shafts. The valve itself is of a compact, generally symmetrical nature readily1 incorporable in a pipe line without unusual space requirements. In addition, the nature of the valve makes it possible to supply parts for a very large valve without coinplicated mechanism and Without diiiiculties in manufacture. In some installations, particularly where the valves are very large, I prefer to modify the easing construction somewhat as shown in the remaining gures of the drawing, even though the interior portion of the valve is not materially altered.

As shown particularly in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the valve casing Si is substantially as previously described insofar as its joint flanges dit and 93 are concerned and insofar as its ange 94 connecting to the pipe line liange t5 is concerned. There is a variation, however, in the connection of the upstream half @l of the casing with the upstream pipe line 93. While the pipe line is provided with the customary te "minal iiange QS, the casing half lll does not itself have a bolt flange but rather is cylindrically bored in a concentric fashion to receive slidably a sleeve il!! provided with a peripheral antifriction material HB2 and forming part of an intermediate ange itil.

The intermediate flange is designed to abut the flange t9 with a suitable packing lofi therebetween and to be held against such iiange by a through bolt l. rIliis is of special construction and carries nuts itl and iii abutting the respective flanges which when tightened forni a water tight connection pipe. The bolts ict, however, are extended to pass through relatively large holes on a locking plate Hi8 abutting the flange l l@ and then are reduced and threaded into the upstream casing portion lil. Nuts ill on the bolts Hit hold the ring Idil against the casing half. A packing ring l l 2 is thus retained against the antifriction material H32.

With this arrangement, the bolts Hl@ can be removed from the upstream casing half lil and a noncircular end H3 is provided on the bolts for thatJ purpose. This is accomplished after the nut lill has been removed and the nuts w8 and iii have been loosened. When the fastenings which hold the flanges Sii and 6 together have been removed and the ring iti has been displaced into r the interior of the valve casing (with the rotor in closed position) the overall dimensions of the valve is reduced a suflicient amount so that it can be removed transversely from between the flanges 99 and 95. Afterward the entire assembly can be returned or a different assembly can be substituted and aligned with the pipeline following which the bolts and nuts are all reassembled. The nuts it!! act on the bolts |06 as screw jacks in order to force the flanges into correct position.

Also in this form of the valve casing, and partly because the casing design permits valve removability without disturbing the remainder of the pipe line, the valve casing itself is further modified. In the vicinity of the shafts 5l and 52, the bosses 57 and 58 are provided with relatively long studs IZI and 22 (Figure 7) extending from the downstream casing half through the upstream casing half to receive fastening nuts. In locations more remote from the shaft where more wrench room is available through bolts |23 are provided.

aceaes The provision oi fasteningsin this manner gaiords animp-roved manner crholding the casing halves together and for readily removing the fastenings when the valve is to be demounted.

I claim;

1. A spherical valve comprising a casing `having an inlet and an outlet alined on a longitudinal axis, a seat ring having a rst sealing surface encompassing said outlet and .disposed on said casing with its center displaced from .said axis, a rotor journalled in said .casing to turn -about a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis, and a rotor ring having a second sealing surface on said .rotor adapted in one position .of said rotor to abut said nrst .sealing surface `on said seat ring.

2. A spherical valve comprising a casing having `an inlet and an outlet alined on a longitudinal axis, a seat ring disposed in said casing perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and having la spherical lirst sealing suriace encompassing said outlet With the center of said surface displaced from said axis, a rotor journalied .in said casing to turn about a transverse axis intersecting said longitudinal axis, and a rotor ring on said rotor and having a spherical lsecond sealing surface adapted in one position of said rotor to abut said rst sealing surface on said seat ring.

3. A spherical valve comprising .a casing having an outlet, a casing seat having a spherical rst sealing surface encompassing said outlet, the geometrical center of said rst sealing surface being at a predetermined point within said casing, -a rotor journalled in said Ycasing to turn about a fixed axis spaced from said point, and a rotor seat having a spherical second sealing Asurface :adapted inone position of said rotor to abut said first sealing surface on said casing seat.

d.. A spherical valve comprising a casing having a contour spherical about a predetermined point and having inlet and outlet openings alined on an axis displaced from said point, a first valve seat in said casing having a surface spherical about said point, a rotor in said casing, a second valve seat on said rotor having a surface spherical about said point, and means for rotating said rotor solely about a point `on said axis.

5. A spherical valve -comprising a casing having inlet and outlet openings alined on a rst longitudinal axis, a rotor jvournalled in said casing to turn about a second axis perpendicular vto said longitudinal axis, said rotor having Aa passage therethrough in a iirst position of said .rotor forming .a substantial continuation of said Yinlet and said outlet openings, a rotor ring .on said rotor, said rotor ring having a first sealing .surface eccentric `to said second axis, and a casing ring encompassing said outlet, lsaid casing ring having a second sealing surface eccentric to said rst `axis and in a second position of said yrotor .abutting said first vsealing surface on .said rotor ring.

6. A spherical valve comprising a casing having a cylindrical inlet and a cylindrical outlet alined on .a longitudinal axis, a circular seat `ring having a 4first sealing ,surface encompassing said outlet .and disposed `in said ,casingV with the axis of said seat ring parallel to .but displaced from said longitudinal axis Vand with the center of said iirst sealing surface .on said .seat ring axis, a rotor journalled in said casing for rotation about .a xed axis perpendicular to and intersecting said longitudinal axis, said rotor having a passageway therethrough in one rotated position of said rotor alining With said-inlet and said outlet, and a circular rotor .ring on .said rotor having Aa second sealing .surface .in another rotated position of said .rotor .coaxially engaging Vsaid first scaling suriace onsaid seat ring,

7.. A spherical valve .comprising .a casing hav- `ing an outlet symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, a .casing seat having a surface encompassing said outlet, a .rotor iournalled directly in said casing to turn about ya fixed transverse axis perpendicularly intersecting said longitudinal axis, and a rotor .seat having a surface adapted in one position of said rotor to abut said casing seat, said surfaces being spherical about a common center displaced from said transverse axis ina direction at right angels to said longitudinal axis.

8. A spherical valve compirsing a casing having .an inlet opening .and an outlet opening symmetrical about a longitudinal axis, a first valve seat .in said casing surrounding one Yof said openings, said rst seat having a spherical surface, a rotor Within `and supported `directly on said casing, .means for mounting said rotor for rota- .tion about a xed :transverse axis perpendicularly intersecting .said longitudinal axis, a second valve seat .on said rotor, said second .seat having la matching spherical surface, said spherical .surfaces having a common center displaced from .said transverse .axis in a V.direction at right yangles to said longitudinal axis, and means for rotating saidrotor-about said transverse axis.

RAY BACCI-II.

References Cited in the i'lle .of this patent Y UNITED STATES PATE-NTS Number Name Date 524,922 Walsh Aug. 21, 1894 1,656,183 Enz Jan. 17, `1928 2,577,725 -Drake Dec. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 45,934 France of 1936 213,331 `.Gferrnany of 1909 477,295 Germany of 1929 '599,176 .France of 1926 624,406 Germany of 1935 

